Watchcase, &amp;c.



C. L. DEPOLLIER.

WATCHCASE, &c.'

APPLICATION FILED mmza. 191s.

Patented May 11, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT clarion.

CHARLES L. ionronmnn, on NEW Yonx, N. Y.

WATCHCASE, &c.

masses.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. Dnnon- LIER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, in the county ofv Kings, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watchcases, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates particularly to what are commonly known as convertible watches, that is, Watches which can be used either as wrist watches or as chatelaine or sautoire watches. Such watches, in order to be used as wrist watches, must be provided with two means of attachment, at opposite points, to the bracelet. The bow of the watch usually serves as one of such means of attachment and at the diametrically opposite point the watch is usually provided with an eye of some 'sort to which one end of the bracelet may be secured. It has been proposed heretofore to provide, as such second means of attachment, something which shall not be readily visible when the watch is in use as a chatelaine or sautoire watch, so that it shall not be too apparent'that the wearer is then using for such a purpose a watch 30 which is primarily intended for another purpose, namely, for use as a bracelet watch or wrist watch.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved disappearing means 35 for connecting the watch to the bracelet.

In accordance With the invention the watch or brooch is provided at one point, usually opposite the bow, or at each of two points, if desired, with an under-cut hole,

49 usually formed in the watch-case center,

and there. is also provided, either as an attachment to or as a part of the bracelet, an attaching device which has a headadapted to enter the hole in the case and to be secur'ely engaged with the case. Such head is preferably made as an expansible head, so that when it has been introduced into the hole in the case it can be expanded so as to i become firmly secured in thehole, and the 50 hole itself is preferably provided also with a spring-pressed closure, which yields to per mit the introduction of the head of the fastening device, and springs out to fill the mouth of the hole when the fastening device is removed.

The invention will be more fully explained Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flied January 28, 1915. Serial No. 4,916.

Patented May it, 1915.

hereinafter with reference .to the accompanying drawing in which it is illustrated and 'in which- Figure l is a View in perspective of a bracelet watch equipped with one form of the improved securing device. Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the watch case and the fastening device in operative relation therewith. Fig. 3 is a detail View, partly in section on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 2, showing the head of the fastening device expanded to engage the watch case. Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the watch caseand the fastening device separated. Fig; 5 is a view of the fastening device as seen from above in Fig. a, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a view in section on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slightly different form of the fastening device.' Fig. 8 is a detail view of the fastening device shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view in section on the plane indicated by the line 99 of Fig. 7 In Fig. 1 of the drawing is shown a wrist or bracelet watch a having an ordinary bow b to which is attached one end of a bracelet 0, the other end being attached to the watch at a point, as d, diametrically opposite the bow b by means of the improved fastening or attaching device hereinafter described.

In each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawing the center 6 of the watch case, having on one side the back 6 and on the other side the bezel 6 is provided at a convenient point, preferably opposite the how 6, or at each of two diametrically opposite points, with a hole 6 which is under-cut or formed with an internal shoulder as at e if the center is provided with a reinforcing piece as indicated at 6 If the center has no such reinforcing piece, then there is nothing to define the shoulder or under-cut ortion of the hole. The essential thing is that there shall be sufiicient space within the center to permit the expansible head hereinafter referred to to be expanded so as to prevent its withdrawal through the hole.

' The fastening or attaching device is preferably formed, for the sake of appearance, as well as for convenience in manufacture, as a part of the bracelet c, constituting in effect one link of the bracelet and composed of two members 0' and c relatively movable so that they *cannot be separated. As shown the member 0, provided with a yielding part c which has a locking shoulder c*,7has at its end aflanged head 6 which is split longitudinally, as at 0, so that it can be expanded, the split being extended clear through the end of the member a. The

member 0 has a head a" through which the member 0 slides, and with which the shoulder 0 of the yielding part c of the member 0 may engage to hold the two members in their relatively contracted relation. The head 0 is provided with a slightly tapered finger c which, when the two members a and c are in their contracted relation, enters between the two parts of the split head 0 and spreads such parts or expands the head. ,lVithin the watch case is secured a spring f which carries a plug f adapted to enter and fill the hole e when the attaching device is withdrawn, so as to close the'same against the entrance of dirt or moisture. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the member g of the link and fastening device is substantially the same as the member 0 shown in Figs. 2-6, having a head 0 with a projecting finger 0 The member 0- is similar to the member 0 of Figs. 2-6, having an expansible flanged head a", split as at 0 so that it may be expanded by the finger 0 when the two members are moved into their contracted relation, while the shoulderedretaining device, for cooperation with the head 0 is formed in a somewhat different manner from that illustrated in Figs. 26.

In the use of the improved fastening or 'attaching device, in either of the forms shown, if the resilience of the two parts of the split head causes them to stand apart, as shown in Fig. 5 (the two members being then in their extended relation), they are pinched together so that the split head may be introduced into the hole e, pushing bhck the closure f. The resilience of the two parts of the head may cause the head to expand so that its flanges engage the shoulders e of the inner wall of the watch case cen-- ter, but in any event the two members are moved into their. contracted relation so that the pin or finger o enters between the two parts of the splithead and expands it and holds it expanded with its flanges held in engagement withthe watch case center. To detach the head from the case the parts of the head are pressed to ether. 'The neck of the'head, back of the anges, fits with sufficient freedom in the hole 0 to prevent absolute rigidit and the watch.

It will be understood that changes may y'of connection between the link be made in the details of construction to suit different conditions of use, and that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention I 1'. The combination with a watch case having a hole formed therein, of a fastening device independent of the Watch and having ahead to enter the hole, and means to retain the head detachably in the hole against accidental disengagement.

2. The combination with a watch case having a hole formed therein, of a fastening device having an expansible head adapted to enter the hole, and means to expand the head within the hole.

3. The combination with a watch case having a hole formed therein, of a fastening device comprising aflanged, split head adapted to enter the hole in the watch case, and means to expand the said head within the hole.

4. The combination with a watch case having a hole formed therein, of a fastening device comprising a flanged, split head adapted to enter the hole in the watch case, and a relatively movable part having a finger to enter between the parts of the split head and expand the same within the hole.

5. The combination with a watch case comprising two-members relatively movable in a longitudinal direction, one of such mem-' bers having a flanged, split head adapted to enter the hole in the watch case .and the other of said members having a finger to expand the headwithin the hole.

6. A watch case having its center formed with a hole and a spring-pressed plunger mounted within the center to close the hole from the inside.

7. A watch case having its center formed with a hole for engagement with the fastening device, a spring-pressed plunger mounts ed-within the center'to close the hole from the inside, and a fastening device adapted to enter the hole and to engage the center. i 8. A watch case having its center formed with a hole for engagement with the fastening device, a spring-pressed plunger mounted within the-center to close the hole from the inside, a fastening device having a head adapted to enter the hole, and means to retain the head detachably in engagement with the center.

This specification signed and witnessed this 23rd day of January, A. D., 1915.

CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER.

Signed in the presence of WORTHINGTON CAMPBELL, AMBROSE L. OSHEA. 

